Support shirt

ABSTRACT

Embodiments are directed to a support shirt providing sleeve reinforcement regions on sleeve portions about a centerline. The centerline exists as a curvilinear axis across the support shirt. The support shirt comprises a shirt body, and shirt body sleeves positioned near the upper shirt body. The shirt body provides support for the wearer around the chest region. Sleeve portions are attached to the shirt body at the sleeve body holes. In an embodiment, the sleeve reinforcement regions comprise a length of taut material extending from the sleeve holes to an outer portion of the sleeve about the centerline. The sleeve portions extend in an outward direction relative to a frontal plane of the shirt body and in a downward direction relative to a transverse plane of the shirt body.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the current invention are related to a shirt or garmentwhich covers the upper torso. Specifically, embodiments are directed toa support shirt providing support along the chest and shoulder regionsof the wearer. The support shirt of embodiments of the invention can beused for sporting activities where support of the chest and shoulders isdesired. One such application of the support shirt of embodiments of theinvention is a bench press shirt for support in weightliftingactivities.

Bench press shirts provide an increase in the amount of weight a benchpresser can lift as well as increased safety to the bench presser.Typically, bench press shirts are made of taut materials with highstrength, such as double knit polyester, canvas or denim. Such benchpress shirts have portions covering the sleeves and chest which mayprovide tightness during lifting. Bench press shirts can also be made ofspandex type fabric and be effective for support. As distinguished fromordinary shirts or t-shirts, bench press shirts have at least one areaof increased support/strength, designed to augment movement of a bodypart by increased strength of material and/or compression.

In a bench pressing exercise, a weightlifter lies substantially flat onhis back, with arms upraised. The weightlifter then lowers a weight tothe chest, and then pushes it upward straight until the arms arestraight. The tautness provides assistance and increased support for theunderlying muscles, thereby allowing the weightlifter to lift moreweight.

Weightlifting shirts typically provide a peak area of support from thebench press, referred to as a “support bubble.” Typically, the liftertries to push the weight upward in line with the support bubble of thebench press shirt. Shirt and lifter do not always have the perfect peaksupport area, so the lifter adjusts the bar path as much as possible tomeet the peak of the shirt's support bubble. Moreover, the lifter canadjust the fitting position of the shirt to match the lifter's bar path.For example, the lifter could adjust the position of the neck band of abench press shirt, or could adjust the position of the sleeves inrelation to the lifter's deltoid muscles. Lifters can also employ bothtechniques of adjusting the bar path in combination with adjusting thefitting position of the shirt. Moreover, such shirts often do not haveshoulder reinforcement such that would provide adequate support for thelifter during elevation and descent of a weight through the bar path.

Other problems exist in such bench press shirts. During a bench pressexercise, slack exists in the material of the shirt just below thelifter's arm from the front deltoid. The slack material tightens up asthe bar lowers. Additionally bench press shirts may tear or shred at theshoulder seams and neck area where most the stress happens. Therefore, aproblem exists for providing lack of support across the shoulders of thewearer through the bar path of a bench press exercise.

Attempts have been made to provide a bench press shirt providingsupport. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,235 applies to a shirt whereinthe circumference and tightness of the area across the upper torso isless than that of the area around the waist. Other designs focus on thetype of material and configuration of the compressible fabrics usedacross the upper chest. Such designs employ fabric or material acrossthe shirt which fails to reinforce the front shoulder portion during thebench press exercise. Additionally, such designs fail to provide supportto the shoulders which allows the weightlifter full range of motion andsupport in shoulders and chest through the bar path. As a result, thelifter must expend additional energy to manually correct and stabilizethe weight through the bar path. Therefore, a need exists for a supportshirt which provides support across the shoulders and chest of thewearer through the bar path of a bench press exercise.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the current invention solve the need for a support shirtwhich provides support across the shoulders and chest of the wearerthrough the bar path of a bench press exercise. According to anembodiment of the current invention, a support shirt has a shirt body,and shirt body sleeves positioned near the upper shirt body. The shirtbody has at least one section comprised of taut supporting fabricextending across the upper torso. Sleeve portions are attached to theshirt body at the sleeve body holes.

During upward movement of the arms, a centerline exists along the chest,extending over the shoulder regions. The centerline extendslongitudinally across the front portion of the sleeves. Sleevereinforcement regions extend from the sleeve holes to an outer portionof the sleeve along each sleeve portion. The sleeve reinforcementregions extend along the path of the centerline along the sleeves. Thesleeve reinforcement regions provide an increased area of support alongthe centerline, thereby stabilizing and providing support to theshoulders through the upward lifting motion.

In a first embodiment, the sleeve reinforcement regions have couplingseams extending from the sleeve holes to an outer portion of the sleevealong each sleeve portion. The sleeve reinforcement regions comprise ataut length of material located on the coupling seams and attached tothe sleeve portions. The sleeve reinforcement regions providereinforcement proximate to the centerline along the front portions ofthe sleeve portions.

In alternate embodiments, the sleeve reinforcement regions exist as awaveform. For example, in a first alternate embodiment, the sleevereinforcement regions exist as a taut length of material located oncoupling seams attached to the sleeve portions. The amplitude of thewaveform is measured from the centerline. The sleeve reinforcementregions provide reinforcement proximate to the centerline. Each sleeveportion has a front and back portion, which are joined at a seam and thecoupling seam.

The structure and configuration of the sleeve reinforcement regions mayvary. For example, the sleeve reinforcement regions may comprise a stripof material extending along the centerline with or without a couplingseam. Moreover, the sleeve reinforcement regions may also employ denselywoven stitching along the centerline, with or without coupling seams. Astrip of material may be separated by a coupling seam, and extend alongthe centerline. The purpose of the sleeve reinforcement regions is toprovide an area of augmented support along the centerline, extendingalong the front portion of the sleeve portions.

The support shirt of embodiments herein may implement shirt sleeveswhich can be placed in a more downward tilted position, or less downwardposition, to accommodate different benching styles. Some lifters benchwith a “flat back” on the bench which gives them a more straight upwardbar path in relation to their torso. Many lifters arch their back, whichmakes the bar path closer to that of a decline-bench bar path. Thesleeve reinforcement regions on the front of the shirt can be placed invarious positions to suit various bar path preferences, and varioussleeve-tilt constructions.

The shirt body and sleeve portions are comprised of a taut fabric. Theshirt body and sleeve members may be the same or of different material.Both the shirt body and sleeve members may be stretchable ornon-stretchable material. The shirt body may or not have a back portion.

It is an object of the current invention to provide a support shirt witha supporting fabric across the upper torso of an individual.

It is a further object of the current invention to provide a supportshirt with sleeve reinforcement regions providing support along acenterline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained byreference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunctionwith the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the support shirt of an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 shows a back view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the support shirt of an alternateembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a sleeve portion of the embodiment ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.6.

FIG. 9 shows a back view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.6.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.6.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the support shirt of the embodiment of FIG.6.

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an individual wearing asupport shirt, and illustrates the centerline during the bench pressexercise, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of an individual wearing a support shirt,and illustrates the approximate centerline during the bench pressexercise, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a front view of the support shirt, and the configurationof the reinforced sleeve arrangement in relation to the centerline, ofthe embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 15 shows a front view of the support shirt, and the assembledsleeve portions before sleeve reinforcement regions are attached to thesupport shirt, according to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of an individual wearing a supportshirt, and illustrates the support bubble during the bench pressexercise, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a bar path during the bench pressexercise, according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 18 shows a front view of the support shirt of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 19 shows a front view of the support shirt of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 20 shows a front view of the support shirt of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 21 shows a front view of the support shirt of an embodiment of theinvention.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components willbear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention, asupport shirt 10 comprises a shirt body 11 worn across the torso of anindividual in accordance with FIGS. 1-5. The shirt body 11 comprises anupper shirt body 13 and lower shirt body 15, as shown in FIG. 1.Additionally, the shirt body 11 has a shirt front 51 and shirt back 52joined at a body seam 53. The shirt body 11 is comprised of a tautsupporting fabric, extending across at least the upper shirt body 13.The taut material provides support across the upper torso of theindividual, so that there is increased pressure exerted across thepectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles of the wearer. The shirtbody 11 provides support during raising of the bar through a bar path33. The fabric may be comprised of stretchable or non-stretchablematerial. Additionally, the fabric may be single ply or multi-ply andmay be comprised of: canvas fabric; polyester; spandex type fabric;nylon fabric; organic cotton; or any kind of fabric that holds tautness.Shirt body sleeve holes 17 are positioned near the upper shirt body 13,corresponding with the area of traversal of the wearer's arms. In thepreferred embodiment, the shirt body 11 has a strength of 90 psi,although differing strengths of shirts may be used.

Sleeve portions 19 are attached to the shirt body 11 at the shirt bodysleeve holes 17, as shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve portions 19 providecompression across the shoulders of the wearer, corresponding with theanterior deltoid, coracobrachialis, scapulae fixer, biceps, and tricepsof the wearer. The sleeve portions 19 are comprised of a taut material,providing support for the shoulders during lifting. The fabric may becomprised of stretchable or non-stretchable material. Additionally, thefabric may be single ply or multi-ply and may be comprised of: canvasfabric; polyester; spandex type fabric; nylon fabric; organic cotton; orany kind of fabric that holds tautness. The sleeve portions 19 may bearranged in differing positions according to embodiments of theinvention. For example, sleeve portions 19 can be placed in a moredownward tilted position, or less downward position, to accommodatedifferent benching styles. Some lifters bench with a “flat back” on thebench which gives them a more straight upward bar path 33 in relation totheir torso. Many lifters arch their back, which makes the bar path 33closer to that of a decline-bench bar path 33. In the preferredembodiment, the sleeve portions 19 extend in an outward directionrelative to a frontal plane 4 of the shirt body 11 and a downwarddirection relative to a transverse plane 6 of the shirt body 11 as shownin FIGS. 4, 5. According to FIG. 5, sleeve portions 19 have a firstcentral angle 37 of approximately 85° relative to the frontal plane 4.According to FIG. 4, sleeve portions 19 have a second central angle 39of approximately 30° relative to the transverse plane 6 of the shirtbody 11. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve portions 19 have astrength of 90 psi, although differing strengths may be used.

FIG. 16 illustrates a support bubble 35 during a bench press exercise,according to embodiments of the invention. The support bubble 35 is apeak area of support from the support shirt 10. During the bench pressexercise, the lifter tries to press the bar upward in line with the peakof support from the support shirt 10. Bench press shirts are designed tohave a peak point of support at the most natural point of pressing forthe lifter, referred to as a centerline 31 according to embodiments ofthe invention. The centerline 31 refers to the longitudinal axiscorresponding with the weightlifting bar, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13. Thecenterline 31 corresponds to an area of support for the support shirt10, extending along the upper shirt body 13, located slightly below thesleeve body holes 17, which corresponds with the axis of a bar duringthe bench press exercise. The centerline 31 extends across the uppertorso of the individual and the frontal shoulder areas and forms acurvilinear axis, as shown in FIG. 2. According to the preferredembodiment, the centerline 31 extends across the bench press shirt 10across the lifter's body, above the serratus anterior muscles, andacross the pectoralis major muscle.

Sleeve reinforcement regions 27 are located on each of the sleeveportions 19. The sleeve reinforcement regions 27 comprise a length ofmaterial stitched to the sleeve portions as shown in FIGS. 1-5. Thesleeve reinforcement regions 27 extend longitudinally, from the shirtbody sleeve holes 17 to the outer edge of the sleeve portions 19. Thesleeve reinforcement regions 27 of the preferred embodiment arecomprised of a taut fabric stitched to the support shirt 10. The areacomprising the sleeve reinforcement regions 27 has a greater strengththan that of the shirt body 11. Therefore, the sleeve reinforcementregions 27 provide greater support for the wearer's shoulders, biceps,and triceps during lifting, and assists the lifter during movementthrough the bar path 33. In the preferred embodiment, the areacomprising the sleeve reinforcement regions 27 has a strength of 100psi, however differing strengths may be used. As shown in FIG. 2 andFIG. 5, the sleeve reinforcement regions 27 are aligned such that theyextend across the centerline 31 during the bench press exercise. Thesleeve reinforcement regions 27 form a support area which providessupport for the lifter in the support bubble 35 through the bar path 33.An exemplary bar path is illustrated in FIG. 17.

The fabric and structure comprising the upper shirt body 13, lower shirtbody 15, and sleeve portions of the support shirt 10 of the embodimentdiffers from conventional shirts or t-shirts. As distinguished from aconventional shirt or t-shirt, the support shirt 10 has at least onearea of increased support/strength, designed to augment movement of abody part by increased strength of material and/or compression. Thesupport shirt 10 of the preferred embodiment utilizes such a supportingfabric with a greater tensile strength and thickness than ordinaryshirts. Moreover, the support shirt 10 utilizes fabric which utilizescompression and support across the chest area, thereby allowing supportfor athletic activities such as bench pressing exercises. The sleevereinforcement regions 27 extend this area of support along the shouldersthrough the path of the centerline 31, as defined herein. Therefore, thesupport shirt 10 naturally augments motion of the wearer's arms forwardfrom the frontal plane of the wearer's body during athletic activitiessuch as bench press exercises.

Alternatives

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. In accordance with FIGS. 6-11, an alternate embodiment isshown. In the embodiment, a support shirt 110 comprises a shirt body111, upper shirt body 113, lower shirt body 115, shirt body sleeve holes117, sleeve portions 119, and sleeve reinforcement regions 127 extendinglongitudinally about a centerline 131. According to the embodiment, thesleeve reinforcement regions extend in a sinusoidal waveform shape, withan amplitude measured from the centerline 131.

The sleeve portions 119 extend in an outward direction relative to afrontal plane 104 of the shirt body 111 and a downward directionrelative to a transverse plane 106 of the shirt body 111 as shown inFIGS. 10, 11. According to FIG. 11, sleeve portions 119 have a firstcentral angle 137 of approximately 85° relative to the frontal plane104. According to FIG. 10, sleeve portions 119 have a second centralangle 139 of approximately 30° relative to the transverse plane 106 ofthe shirt body 111. In the embodiment, the sleeve portions 119 have astrength of 90 psi, although differing strengths may be used.

FIG. 18 shows a support shirt 210 of an alternate embodiment. In theembodiment, the support shirt 210 comprises a shirt body 211, uppershirt body 213, lower shirt body 215, shirt body sleeve holes 217,sleeve portions 219, and sleeve reinforcement regions 227 extendinglongitudinally about a centerline 231. According to the embodiment, thesleeve reinforcement regions 227 extend in a square wave shape.

FIG. 19 shows a support shirt 310 of an alternate embodiment. In theembodiment, the support shirt 310 comprises a shirt body 311, uppershirt body 313, lower shirt body 315, shirt body sleeve holes 317,sleeve portions 319, and sleeve reinforcement regions 327 extendinglongitudinally about a centerline 331. According to the embodiment, thesleeve reinforcement regions 327 extend in a triangle wave shape.

FIG. 20 shows a support shirt 410 of an alternate embodiment. In theembodiment, the support shirt 410 comprises a shirt body 411, uppershirt body 413, lower shirt body 415, shirt body sleeve holes 417,sleeve portions 419, and sleeve reinforcement regions 427 extendinglongitudinally about a centerline 431. According to the embodiment, thesleeve reinforcement regions 427 extend in a sawtooth wave shape.

FIG. 21 shows a support 510 of an alternate embodiment. In theembodiment, the support shirt 510 comprises a shirt body 511, uppershirt body 513, lower shirt body 515, shirt body sleeve holes 517,sleeve portions 519, and sleeve reinforcement regions 527 extendinglongitudinally about a centerline 531. According to the embodiment, thesleeve reinforcement regions 527 extend approximately perpendicular withthe centerline 531.

The construction, material, and configuration of the elements describedherein may vary.

For example, the bench press shirt could also exist without a lowertorso area, and/or without a shirt back.

Bench press shirts may be composed of numerous materials includingsynthetic and non-synthetic fibers. The bench press shirts of theembodiments herein provided support/and or compression during athleticactivities, and therefore have greater tensile strength thanconventional shirts. Bench press shirts may or may not have elasticproperties. For example, embodiments may utilize fabrics such asneoprene or spandex. Additionally, bench press shirts may comprisestretch fabric including either 2-way or 4-way stretch.

The sleeve reinforcement regions may comprise a strip of materialextending along the centerline with or without a coupling seam.Moreover, the sleeve reinforcement regions may also employ densely wovenstitching along the centerline, with or without coupling seams. A stripof material may be separated by a coupling seam, and extend along thecenterline. The sleeve reinforcement regions may or may not extend theentire distance from the sleeve body holes to the lower edge of theshirt. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should notbe limited to the descriptions of the preferred versions herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support shirt fitting over the torso of anindividual, comprising: a. a shirt body comprising an upper shirt body,said shirt body having at least one area of increased support/strength,augmenting movement of the arms of said individual; b. shirt body sleeveholes positioned near said upper shirt body; c. sleeve portions attachedto said shirt body at said shirt body sleeve holes, said sleeve portionscomprising front sleeve portions and back sleeve portions, said sleeveportions comprised of a taut fabric; and d. sleeve reinforcement regionslocated on each of said sleeve portions, extending along said frontsleeve portions about a centerline; wherein said centerline is acurvilinear longitudinal axis along said upper shirt body, locatedslightly below said sleeve holes.
 2. The support shirt of claim 1,wherein said sleeve reinforcement regions comprise a length of materialattached to said sleeve portions.
 3. The support shirt of claim 2,wherein said length of material is attached to said sleeve portions bystitching.
 4. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein said sleevereinforcement regions have a coupling seam.
 5. The support shirt ofclaim 1, wherein said sleeve reinforcement regions comprise a length ofdensely woven fabric across said centerline.
 6. The support shirt ofclaim 1, wherein said upper shirt body is either stretchable ornon-stretchable.
 7. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein said uppershirt body is either single ply or multi-ply.
 8. The support shirt ofclaim 1, wherein said upper shirt body is either of: canvas fabric;polyester; spandex type fabric; nylon fabric; or any fabric which holdstautness.
 9. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein said sleeve portionsare either stretchable or non-stretchable.
 10. The support shirt ofclaim 1, wherein said sleeve portions are either single ply ormulti-ply.
 11. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein said sleeveportions are constructed of either: canvas fabric; polyester; spandextype fabric; nylon fabric; or any fabric which holds tautness.
 12. Thesupport shirt of claim 1, wherein said sleeve portions extend in anoutward direction relative to a frontal plane of said shirt body and adownward direction relative to a transverse plane of said shirt body.13. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein said sleeve reinforcementregions extend in waveform shape, with an amplitude measured from saidcenterline.
 14. The support shirt of claim 12, wherein said waveformshape is either of: a sine wave shape; a square wave shape; a trianglewave shape; or a sawtooth wave shape.
 15. The support shirt of claim 1,wherein said sleeve reinforcement regions extend approximately parallelwith said centerline.
 16. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein saidsleeve reinforcement regions extend approximately perpendicular withsaid centerline.
 17. The support shirt of claim 1, wherein said fabricdoes not extend around the back of said shirt body.
 18. The supportshirt of claim 1, wherein said fabric does not extend around a lowerportion of said shirt body.
 19. A support shirt fitting over the torsoof an individual, comprising: a. a shirt body comprising an upper shirtbody, said shirt body having a defined frontal plane and a definedtransverse plane relative to said torso of said individual, wherein saidupper shirt body is comprised of a taut fabric; b. shirt body sleeveholes positioned near said upper shirt body; c. sleeve portions attachedto said shirt body at said shirt body sleeve holes, said sleeve portionscomprising front sleeve portions and back sleeve portions, wherein saidsleeve portions extend in an upward direction relative to said frontalplane of said shirt body, and wherein said sleeve portions extend in adownward direction relative to said transverse plane of said shirt body,wherein said sleeve portions are comprised of a taut fabric; d. sleevereinforcement regions located on each of said sleeve portions, extendingalong said front sleeve portions about a centerline; e. wherein saidcenterline is a longitudinal curvilinear axis along said upper shirtbody, located slightly below said sleeve holes; and f. wherein saidsleeve reinforcement regions extend as a waveform along said centerline.20. A support shirt fitting over the torso of an individual, comprising:a. a shirt body comprising an upper shirt body, said shirt body having adefined frontal plane and a defined transverse plane relative to saidtorso of said individual, wherein said upper shirt body is comprised ofa taut fabric; b. shirt body sleeve holes positioned near said uppershirt body; c. sleeve portions attached to said shirt body at said shirtbody sleeve holes, said sleeve portions comprising front sleeve portionsand back sleeve portions, wherein said sleeve portions extend in anupward direction relative to said frontal plane of said shirt body, andwherein said sleeve portions extend in a downward direction relative tosaid transverse plane of said shirt body, wherein said sleeve portionsare comprised of a taut fabric; d. sleeve reinforcement regions locatedon each of said sleeve portions, extending along said front sleeveportions about a centerline; and e. wherein said centerline is alongitudinal curvilinear axis along said upper shirt body, locatedslightly below said sleeve holes.